Visakhapatnam: Visakhapatnam Range police have destroyed ganja, a narcotic, grown over more than 8,600 acres within the range over the past three years. Police have arranged for 4.68 million seedlings / saplings of 22 different species, which are now being grown on 10,803.25 acres of land instead of ganja.
This has prevented 10,256 farmers from straying into illegal activities in 20 mandals of Alluri Sitharama Raju district. In addition, authorities have distributed 4,496 quintals of rajma seeds to 35,618 farmers to be grown as an alternative, profitable crop.
In 2024, a total of 538 cases had been filed, resulting in seizure of 27,367 kg of ganja and 95.20 litres of hashish oil. Police arrested 1,505 individuals, including 638 from other states. 35 accused in 18 cases have been convicted this year, with 18 of them sentenced to more than 10 years’ imprisonment.
Since June 12, 2024, drone surveillance has emerged pivotal in anti-ganja operations, with a total of 204.45 flight hours clocked over 115 remote villages.
Further, 52 notorious offenders are being targeted under the Preventive Detention Act, so that they can be prevented from dealing in ganja. 11 specialised canine units have been dedicated to identify those transporting ganja.
At the all-India level, 36 specialised teams conducted raids across several states, such as Odisha, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, arresting 450 persons.
Coming to the victims of ganja, police have organised 2,590 drug abuse awareness campaigns in 1,043 educational institutions. De-addiction centres have been set up in Paderu, Anakapalli, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam. Police have distributed 17,287 brochures and set up 134 drop boxes for anonymous reporting against ganja.
Talking to this correspondent, DIG Gopinath Jetti said: “Our three-fold strategy integrates technology, community involvement and ongoing legal measures against cultivation, consumption and transportation of ganja.
He pointed out that a drug disposal committee has methodically eliminated seized narcotics in stages, including 34,818 kg of ganja and 39 kg of hashish oil in Anakapalli district in January 2025, 30,000.57 kg of ganja and 35.26 kg of hashish oil in ASR district in February 2025, and 7,378 kg of ganja across Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Manyam districts in March 2025.
“In place of ganja, we have distributed to farmers 18 types of alternative saplings / seedlings, including those of silver oak, coffee, tamarind, coconut, orange, sapota, avocado and mango,” DIG Gopinath added.
